Filipe Luis set for Atleti switch

Deportivo La Coruna president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro has confirmed negotiations are at an advanced stage for the sale of defender Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish press claimed this morning that a deal was imminent for the Brazilian left back, who is set to join Atletico for a fee of €12 million. The player is expected to undergo a medical on Tuesday before signing a four-year deal with Quique Sanchez Flores' side.

"We believe there are only a few details left to be sorted out," Depor president Lendoiro said on arrival at a Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) meeting in Madrid on Tuesday morning. "Until there is something signed, there is nothing we can say (officially), but let's say things are very advanced.

"I imagine he (Filipe) is already here (in Madrid). The idea I have is that he will have arrived (to finalise the move)."

Filipe almost signed for Barcelona last summer, but Deportivo demanded €20million for the full-back and they ended up signing Maxwell from Inter Milan instead.

The player then suffered a serious injury to his right fibula in a match against Athletic Bilbao last January and only returned just before the end of the season.

His sale will allow the club to pay off the reported €4 million owed to midfielder Sergio Gonzalez in unpaid wages. Failure to pay that debt by August 2 could have seen them punished with relegation to the Segunda Division.

Deportivo also owe Atletico close to €2 million for the transfer of defender Ze Castro last year and that debt should also be wiped out thanks to the sale of Filipe.